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All Black Leicester Fainga’anuku's NPC return confirmed
By Ned Lester
The Tasman Mako have made official the return of All Blacks wrecking ball Leicester Fainga’anuku, not wanting to wait another 48 hours until their full 2025 squad announcement to confirm the Toulouse star’s inclusion.
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The 25-year-old has returned to New Zealand’s shores following a two-year stint in France, where he was employed more and more frequently in the midfield, as opposed to the left wing, where Kiwi fans became accustomed to seeing him play.
The Crusaders star has signed a two-year contract with New Zealand Rugby, the Christchurch-based Super Rugby club, and the Nelson-based NPC outfit, making him eligible for selection in the All Blacks’ Rugby Championship campaign.
The NPC season starts July 31st, with Tasman’s first contest coming on August 3rd, 14 days out from the All Blacks’ opening game of the competition against Los Pumas in Córdoba and just one day shy of the All Blacks squad naming.
“It’s official – Leicester Fainga’anuku is returning to the Tasman Mako for 2025! From launching his NPC journey in 2018 to conquering Super Rugby and the Top 14, he’s coming back to where it all began,” the Mako posted on social media.
Should Fainga’anuku’s name be read out as part of the 36-man squad for the annual southern hemisphere heavyweight fight, the August 3rd contest against Bay of Plenty could be his only Tasman cap of the season.
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The bruising 2023 World Cup silver-medalist joins several Crusaders and All Blacks teammates under contract with Tasman. 14-time All Black flanker Ethan Blackadder and 30-cap midfielder David Havili were both notable omissions from the All Blacks’ July Series squad and will hit the NPC season with points to prove.
The Nelson College product has tasted victory twice with his hometown team, winning titles in 2019 and 2020.